Fence



(No Model.)

B. P. & S. G. WOLFE.

FENCE.

No. 440,681. Patented Nov. 18, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. \VOLFE AND SAMUEL C. \VOLFE, OF FREMONT, INDIANA.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,681, dated November 18, 1890.

Application filed April 22,1890- Serial No. 349,018. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, BENJAMIN F. W OLFE and SAMUEL O. WOLFE, citizens of the United new and useful Fence, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fences, and more particularly to the manner of connecting the posts, panels, braces, and brace-posts with each other by tie-wires and loops, all as hereinafter more fully described,

- and illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a section of this fence complete. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of two of the posts as connected to the top and bottom panel-rails. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the fence complete, excepting the intermediate panel-rails. Fig. 4 is a top plan, and Fig. 5 a bottom plan, of the two posts with their wires.

The following specification describes and the drawings illustrate this improved fence,

, the description following the manner in which it is construct-ed the better to give an idea of the same.

A A represent the lapped ends of top panelrails; D D, the lapped ends of bottom panel rails. Post B is placed against the side of the lapped ends of said rails A A and held in position nearly parallel with the lower top panel-rail A. Thelower wire 0 is now passed .directly around said post B and joint of said rails A A and there firmly tied. The base end of this post B is now borne clownward sufficiently to admit of tie-wires C be ing passed around the joint of said rails at the proper place. Post 13 is now placed against the opposite side of the lapped ends of said rails A A and held in a position nearly parallel with the upper top panel-rail A. The other tie-wire is now passed directly around the said post B and firmly tied in like manner at the side of the fence opposite the tie of tie-wire C. It will be seen that the tie-wires G O embrace different posts, but both embrace the lapped ends of the rails A A. The base ends of posts B are now borne downward toward each other, forming a double leverage, until their adjacent sides are nearly parallel and upon opposite sides of the lapped ends of the bottom panel-rails D D, when. their lower ends are firmly connected by the loop-wire E, so arranged as to form a figure 8, which encircles the base of each post closely and passes beneath said bottom rails. This mode of connecting posts B will be seen to be a decidedimprovement, as it most securely binds the lapped ends of the top panel-rails A A together by a double leverage in opposite directions and by two separate and distinct ties, thereby making a continuous connection in the top panel-rail throughout the entire length of the fence. The binding of the rails together, as well as the opposite leverage with the posts, greatly strengthens the structure longitudinally, in which direction it is most necessary it should be strengthened.

The bases of posts B '5 are supported at a suitable distance from the ground, and the inclined brace-stakes F F are then placed in their respective positions at a suitable angle on opposite sides of the lapped ends of top panel-rails A A and on opposite sides of posts B B, with their inner inclined surfaces resting upon and bearing against the corresponding upper edges of the lapped ends of top panel-rails A A, and also bearing against opposite sides of; posts B B longitudinally with the fence. The said brace-stakes F F are now firmly bound to the posts B B just below their lower intersection. therewith, as well as to eaoh'other, by the inclined loop-wire G, so arranged as to form a figure 8, which passes around and encircles corresponding posts and braces within each end of the figure. Said wire G passes intermediately below thelapped ends of rails A A, crossing between the adjacent sides of posts B B and in this position is securely tied against the outer surface of one of the brace-stakes. Posts B B are thus relieved of their support at their bases, and the lapped ends of top panel- ICQ ual settling of the structure, and therefore the gradual tightening of the inclined loopwire G, as well as ties I and J, hereinafter mentioned, which, when placed in their respective positions, are to become instrumental, with said wire G, in supporting the panel in this suspended position. It will be readily seen, also, that said wire by its continuous connection with opposite sides of the fence, as shown in this mode of adjustment, greatly strengthens it against any lateral strain, such as the force of the wind or of stock pressing against the fence, which force is concentrated at this point. Thelapped ends of rider-rails H H are now placed between the adjacent sides of the upper ends of posts B B and forced downward into the upper angle formed by inclined brace-stakes F F. Immediately at the upper side of the lapped ends of the said rails H H the compound loopwireI is now adjusted, which closely encircles the two upper ends of posts B B and each of theupper ends of theinclined bracestakes F F, respectively, as shown in Fig. 4E. The object of this wire is to firmly connect the upper ends of the opposite posts and bracestakes to each other and to hold the lapped ends of the rider-rails H H together andin position, thereby assisting wire G in supporting the suspended panel. The advantage gained in this adjustment of said wire I is that it is continually tightened in proportion to the settling of the suspended panel, for, as will be seen, the natural settling of the structure must cause the upper angle formed by the inclined braces F F to have a tendency to become greater, thereby giving the upper ends of said braces F F an outward tendency in opposite directions, thus bearing against the outer loops of said wire I in opposite directions, tightening said wire, more firmly connecting the tops of posts B B and binding the joint of rider-rails between them. The upper tie-Wires J are now passed directly around posts B B and corresponding bracestakes F F at their lower intersection and firmly tied. This tie-wire also aids in supporting the suspended panel, as well as greatly assisting in strengthening the fence against lateral strain. This improved method of arranging posts B B causes the inclined bracestakes F F when placed in their proper positions to stand in opposing longitudinal bracing positions, which, when securely tied by wires G, I, and J, produces a most effective pair of longitudinal as well as lateral braces for each joint in the fence, and also makes the structure self-supporting. Panel-rails K K K are now placed in position with their ends overlapping between the posts B B In order to brace the fence longitudinally,

the following device may be employed, if desired: At suitable points in the fence a longitudinal inclined brace-post L is placed in a position with its larger end placed against post B and brace-stake F at their lower intersection, as shown,with its smaller end slanting upward. The larger end is then connected to said post B and inclined brace F in this position by one of the tie-wires J, which is passed diagonally around said brace-post L, post B, and inclined brace-stake F, when said brace-post L is brought to its permanent position, as shown, the smaller end borne downward to the bottom panel-rail D, to which said post is bound by a similar bottom tie-wire N, said wire being passed diagonally around said brace-post L and rail D through the lesser angle formed by their intersection, and is thereby securely tied. The object and improvement of this mode of adjusting said tie-wires J and N are that they must necessarily become tightened when any longitudinal strain is brought to bear upon them on account of theirleverage in opposite direction as shown by their positions in the drawings, thus greatly strengthening the structure longitudinally. When said brace-post L is used, the tie-wire J serves the combined purpose of bindingpost B and inclined brace F, as described, and retaining the larger end of said brace-post L in its position. This brace-post may be used in the fence as often as desired and reversed at will.

We claim as the salient points in this invention In a fence, the combination, with a pair of posts B and a pair of braces F, each brace crossing both posts and on opposite sides thereof from each other, of the lower panels D, intermediate panels K, upper panels A, the inclined loop-wire G, embracing one brace and post, passing beneath the upper panels A and embracing the other post and brace, tie-wires connecting each brace and post, the lower tie-wires C embracing one post and the lapped ends of said upper panels, a similar tie-wire O embracing the other post and said ends, the rider-rails H between the upper ends of said posts and braces, and the compound loop-wire passing over the rider-rails and connecting the braces and posts, all substantially as described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. WOLFE. SAMUEL C. WOLFE. Witnesses:

EMORY G. MELINDY, NEWT. G. BALL. 

